SHORT ARTICLES. 83 



De Vries, however, considers monstrosities, with exception of 

 the becoming green of parts of the flower, to be hereditary, and 

 believes that by selective sowing we may succeed in fixing them. 

 Of course, we will not always be successful in obtaining the desired 

 fasciation, but there is little doubt^ that under proper conditions 

 fixation is possible in all cases. The grounds for his conclusion 

 are the following: — 



1. The occurrence of fasciated races (Hesperis matronalis, etc.), 

 and especially the omission of whole generations by the monstrosity, 

 (Helianthus annuus, Tetragonia expansa.) 



2. The occurrence of fasciation during a series of years, in 

 certain annuals and biennials. 



3. The recurrence of fasciation in a larger or smaller number 

 of individuals in the same locality in consecutive years, in the case 

 of certain annuals and biennials. (Picris hieracioides, Oenothera 

 biennis.) 



4. The repeated occurrence of fasciation in the same plant, or in 

 a number of plants, propagated by cuttings. (Lilium speciosum 

 album corymbiflorum, a fasciated variety of Fritillaria imperialis 

 and in numerous others.) 



5. The repetition of fasciation for a number of years in 

 perennial and in ligneous plants. In this case fasciations seemed 

 to be repeated in favorable years, just as a larger amount of nutri- 

 ment seems to bring about the occurrence of a large number of 

 fasciations in annuals and biennials. 



During his experiments Professor de Vries succeeded in produc- 

 ing fasciated races which seem to be well fixed, and he also observed 

 that fasciated plants may be obtained from seed chosen with 

 another purpose in view. Only in such cases, fasciations are less 

 numerous and often intermittent. As an example we give here an 

 account of his experiments upon Araarantus speciosus, conducted 

 for the purpose of producing a race or races with the cotyledons 

 variously split. A plant of Araarantus speciosus was raised from a 

 seed, one of the cotyledons of which was split. This plant, on 

 flowering, produces a fasciated inflorescence. From its seed 60 

 plants were obtained in 1890, one of which possessed a fasciated 

 inflorescence. The seed for the next generation was not obtained 

 from the fasciated individual just mentioned, I»iit fVoni one in which 



